The Tribulation Period - When and how long?

According to dispensationalists and proponents of the secret rapture theory, there will be a seven year period of tribulation between the rapture and the revelation of Jesus Christ.

However, a careful study of the Bible reveals that this very popular teaching is unfounded. There are two major questions one might ask:

  • How was this period of seven years arrived at?
  • Where will the righteous be during the tribulation?

In the previous section, we see that the tribulation period could not be between the rapture and the revelation of Jesus Christ.

We showed that the events are one and the same. So this leaves us to answer (at least) the two questions above.

The Holy Spirit inspired all scripture, and whenever there is apparent inconsistency, we should prayerfully study and ask for understanding.

Revelation 3 : 10

We'll answer the second question first. Read Revelation 3 and verse 10, quoted here.

"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth." - Revelation 3:10 (NIV)

You will see that this text does not talk about the righteous leaving this world to escape a tribulation. Does it?

These are the words of Jesus. What was He speaking about?

Well, He was adding to what He already said in John chapter 17.

You may remember Jesus praying for the disciples, and for all "those who would believe in Him," (that includes you and me - all believers), in John chapter 17. Let's look at a few verses...

"I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word." John 17:6 (NIV)

And also...

"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one." - John 17:15 (NIV)

Note that in both Revelation 3 and John 17, the reference is to the faithful - those who have kept God's words. This refers to those who will be delivered at His Coming.

So from these verses we see that Jesus expects the faithful to go through the testing, through the tribulation. He says, He prayed, not that they be taken out of the world, but that they be protected during the tribulation.

Even in Jude verse 24, Jesus is referred to as "him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy."

Further, in Revelation 7:15, we read of Jesus presenting the saints that have been redeemed from the earth. Let's read it...

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb..." - Revelation 7:15 (NIV)

Note: Those who have come out of, NOT those who have escaped.

The Tribulation Period of Seven Years

How did rapture theorists come up with seven years? The text most used to present this idea is found in the book of Daniel.

"Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
        But in the middle of the week
        He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
        And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
        Even until the consummation, which is determined,
        Is poured out on the desolate." - Daniel 9:27 (NKJV)

Like when you did you comprehension tests in language class (in school), don't fail this one.

First, whom is the passage talking about?

You just have to read from verse 20 or so. You will see that Daniel was being given the explanation of a dream.

The 'He' in verse 27 refers to Jesus Christ. But note that the rapturists take it to refer to antichrist. What a big mistake! Is that hard to see?

How could so many millions of people be so gullible? You just have to check it out for yourself.

So this passage in Daniel 9:20-27 is talking about Daniel's people who would be in captivity for seventy weeks [prophetically, 490 years - see Ezekiel 4:6 to see the day to year principle for prophetic interpretation].

The passage was dealing with events in the seventieth of the seventy-week period relating to the Jews in captivity.

This last week, which equals seven years, deals with two 3½-year periods. The first is from the anointing of the Messiah - Christ was anointed at His baptism, dramatically receiving full power of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove lighting upon Him.

He then began His public ministry, which lasted about three years up to His crucifixion. Hence, in the "middle of the week" Christ brought an end to sacrifice - He became the ultimate sacrifice, replacing the old Jewish sacrifices that were still being offered in the temple.

Three and one half years later, the Jews publicly rejected Jesus as Messiah, by stoning Stephen to death.

Nothing about 7-year tribulation

There is absolutely nothing in the text of Daniel 9:27 about tribulation in the end time. Certainly, the phrase, "He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering" does not speak about antichrist - it refers to Christ Himself.

Moreover, a study of Daniel chapter 9 and history will show that that whole seventy week period ended in AD 34, since it was to have begun (the Bible says) at the time the decree was given to rebuild Jerusalem - 457 BC.

One last question...

Now that we have seen that the passage the rapturists use to talk about the tribulation period is actually past and gone, we have one last question.

When will antichrist come? Is this an important question? You bet it is. Click here to go to the next page - when will antichrist come?

Further Reading: